What are the best ways to establish credibility with new business contacts?

I try to adhere to the 80/20 rule. 80% of the conversation should be about the other person; What do they do? How do they do it? What differentiates them from competitors? Who do they want an introduction to? Then 20% about yourself. If I can help them, then they will be more likely to help me.

Honesty and transparency go a long way. That should be the starting point of any relationship. Our partners need to feel safe with forming that relationship.

Doing research is great, but don't try and over explain what you have learnt to the other person, leverage that to create exploratory conversation on the other person's terms. I like to use McKinsey research articles to get up to speed, you can subscribe to their insights to get daily updates and it's a good way to get research delivered directly to your inbox,

Reforço a importância da autenticidade na construção da credibilidade em contatos comerciais, ressaltando que ser genuíno não apenas cria uma impressão real, mas também estabelece uma base sólida para a confiança mútua. A transparência sobre quem você é, a honestidade ao compartilhar histórias e opiniões, e a autenticidade são elementos cruciais para construir relacionamentos duradouros e significativos no ambiente de negócios, especialmente em cenários virtuais ou remotos.

In my experience, showing sincere interest in the other person is the start. In addition to asking questions, capture what the person is saying. Make the person aware that you are really trying to understand their perspectives and views. People want to be understood, not just heard. If they know you really get what they are saying, it builds greater credibility and more alignment early in conversations.

Be curious....seek to understand rather than be understood. Experts who are more about learning about others and giving back will come across more authentically. We all get "hit up" by sales tactics....don't be that person!

I believe, it is essential for the person reaching out to new business connections to be open and transparent, honest about their abilities, limits, and what they can realistically do. They should avoid exaggerated claims and misleading statements, always staying grounded. As a result, keeping promises is of utmost importance. The cornerstone of your personal brand should be reliability. Therefore, keeping promises in a timely and accurate manner always propels you one step forward.

In my experience, it is essential to deliver on the promises you make. We exist to serve our customers. While it is a business, without clients, there is no business. Companies like Apple have thrived because they consistently provide top-quality products to their customers. It's as simple as that. In any business, when we make promises and fail to deliver on them, we begin to lose our credibility. This can mark the beginning of the end for a business, and losses can accumulate quickly. We must fulfill our promises, much like politicians who risk losing the next election if they don't deliver on their promises to their constituents, and vice versa.

As a Program Manager, I believe in being consistent, calling out risks, and delivering on time (not necessarily faster). Not being afraid of communicating your personal point of view from the business perspective.

One of my favorite books is The Go-Giver. I heard a friend once say to give until it hurts and then give some more. I think that publicly giving your time and talent allows you to establish credibility because people can hear what you are saying and read what you are writing. If they need what you have, they will reach out. Remember: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou If they don't need you right now, they might years down the road. They can also provide referrals at any time if you have built your brand and they know clearly what you do. There is nothing better than having a virtual sales force on your side. So ... be a Go-Giver!

In my experience the key is to express genuine interest in others, what is their GPS or goals passions and struggles? I also think you can try to leave everyone a little better than you found them, can you put a plus on each interaction? The key is to only take credits or ask for self serving things when and where you have made real debits!

Value addition with clear objectives is important , to create a strong sense of achievement your motivation should be in the value you create !

Spend more time in your interaction finding out about their business and current key challenges. Focus on them first. Follow-up with them with an article or some kind of resource. Start creating value for them right away.

One of the things I learned from a webinar was: Don’t shy away from asking for negative feedback… It was a revelation for me, It is a great opportunity to keep yourself aligned with the business goals. Especially when you do that with your direct manager you get to hear their thoughts and perspective. I think doing this practice every six months is important, even more if you pursuing a promotion.

Be humble in your opinion and be precise in your feedback which could further improve your chances in getting and landing better roles in the industry with sound contacts

Early in my career, right after my MBA, whenever I would get an opportunity to meet and network at a conference, I would try my best to meet prominent people/speakers and decision-makers at the event. I would send them thank you notes, etc after the event. It did help for a while; however, in the long run, i found, i didnt have anything of value exchange with them. It's not whose number (or email ID) you have; it's about who has your number and for what that matters! Remember, networking or building relationships is not about collecting cards! It's about establishing genuine value. Will they recognize you? Have you solved a problem or challenge they were facing earlier? That's the key to unlocking from business relationships!

Com base no artigo, gostaria de enfatizar a importância de manter um padrão constante de qualidade e cumprir prazos estabelecidos para construir uma reputação sólida e confiável. A consistência cria uma expectativa positiva nos seus contatos, demonstrando que podem confiar em você para fornecer resultados consistentes e confiáveis. A consistência não apenas fortalece a relação atual, mas também estabelece as bases para parcerias duradouras.

Seek mentors and be one too, for mentorship is a two-way street. Finally, remember your well-being is the foundation for a successful career.